The Mysterious Affair at Styles: A Hercule Poirot Mystery

Captain Arthur Hastings, invalided in the Great War, is recuperating as a guest of John Cavendish at Styles Court, the "country-place" of John's autocratic old aunt, Emily Inglethorpe - she of a sizeable fortune, and so recently remarried to a man 20 years her junior. When Emily's sudden heart attack is found to be attributable to strychnine, Hastings recruits an old friend, now retired, to aid in the local investigation. With impeccable timing, Hercule Poirot, the famous Belgian detective, makes his dramatic entrance into the pages of crime literature.

keeps you wanting more

this book is one on the best; the Narrator, Hugh Fraser's tone and skills leads the listener on an exciting adventure.

Reviewed on November 05 2012
by lerone
(ST-CATHARINES, ontario, Canada)

The Mysterious Affair at Styles

Ms. Christie introduces us for the first time to Hercule Poirot as he solves the mysterious demise of Mrs. Alfred Inglethorpe at her country estate, Styles Court. Many suspects come under his scrutiny but it is his genius to unravel all the intricacies and end up solving the crime in a very surprising ending.

A complete delight!

Besides Mrs. Christie's renowned genius, David Thorn's Inspector P. is a complete delight! This is definitely a GREAT book WONDERFULLY narrated!

The Mysterious Affair at Styles

Recently, there had been some strange goings on at Styles St Mary. Evelyn, constant companion to old Mrs Inglethorp, had stormed out of the house muttering something about "a lot of sharks". And with her, something indefinable had gone from the atmosphere. Her presence had spelt security; now the air seemed rife with suspicion and impending evil.

Murder on the Links: A Hercule Poirot Mystery

An urgent cry for help brings Poirot to France. But he arrives too late to save his client, whose brutally stabbed body now lies face downwards in a shallow grave on a golf course. But why is the dead man wearing his son's overcoat? And who was the impassioned love-letter in the pocket for? Before Poirot can answer these questions, the case is turned upside down by the discovery of a second, identically murdered corpse....

Book 2 in the Poirot Series

This is my second Poirot story as I am attempting to read them all and mostly in order. This is also the second story written through the narrative o..Show More »f Captain Hastings. I must admit after just finishing Murder at Styles, I was beginning to get annoyed at Hastings' style of always looking down on Poirot and in general being too self important. That said, the overall story is wonderful, the mystery twisting until the end and the performance never faltering. Enjoy!

Murder on the links

An urgent cry for help brings Poirot to France. But he arrives too late to save his client, whose brutally stabbed body now lies face downwards in a shallow grave on a golf course. But why is the dead man wearing his son's overcoat? And who was the impassioned love-letter in the pocket for? Before Poirot can answer these questions, the case is turned upside down by the discovery of a second, identically murdered corpse.

Murder on the Links

An urgent cry for help brings Poirot to France. But he arrives too late to save his client, whose brutally stabbed body now lies face downwards in a shallow grave on a golf course. But why is the dead man wearing his son's overcoat? And who was the impassioned love-letter in the pocket for? Before Poirot can answer these questions, the case is turned upside down by the discovery of a second, identically murdered corpse.

Poirot Investigates: A Hercule Poirot Collection

First there was the mystery of the film star and the diamond...then came the "suicide" that was murder...the mystery of the absurdly cheap flat...a suspicious death in a locked gun room...a million-dollar bond robbery...the curse of a pharaoh's tomb...a jewel robbery by the sea...the abduction of a prime minister...the disappearance of a banker...a phone call from a dying man...and finally, the mystery of the missing will. What links these fascinating cases? Only the brilliant deductive powers of Hercule Poirot!

Poirot at his best: short

Poirot, like Sherlock Holmes, is at his best in short stories, and this is a collection of mostly clever ones. Agatha Christie has a tendency to chea..Show More »t sometimes, and Poirot's deductions are sometimes little more than guesswork, but that's a lot more forgivable in a short story than a full-length novel. It happens in some of these stories, but they're good enough to survive it.

Also, David Suchet pretty much is the voice of Poirot now. He does it well here.

Poirot Investigates

First there was the mystery of the film star and the diamond...then came the "suicide" that was murder...the mystery of the absurdly cheap flat...a suspicious death in a locked gun-room...a million dollar bond robbery...the curse of a pharoah's tomb...a jewel robbery by the sea...the abduction of a Prime Minister...the disappearance of a banker...a phone call from a dying man...and, finally, the mystery of the missing will.

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd: A Hercule Poirot Mystery

Roger Ackroyd knew too much. He knew that the woman he loved had poisoned her brutal first husband. He suspected, also, that someone had been blackmailing her. Then, tragically, came the news that she had taken her own life with a drug overdose. But the evening post brought Roger one last fatal scrap of information. Unfortunately, before he could finish reading the letter, he was stabbed to death.

I've never read anything like it...

Very unique ... a delightful twist. I can honestly say I've never read another mystery quite like it. Didn't seem so at first, with the usual sty..Show More »le of relating facts and Poirot's usual method, but I had figured it out before the big reveal. If only just. I knew it the moment after the arrival of the telegram at Poirot's little conference. It struck me suddenly, but I had hit the nail on the head, as the last chapters then revealed. Most unique narrative.Hugh Fraser is a great narrator.

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd

Roger Ackroyd knew too much. He knew that the woman he loved had poisoned her brutal first husband. He suspected also that someone had been blackmailing her. Now, tragically, came the news that she had taken her own life with a drug overdose.

The Big Four: A Hercule Poirot Mystery

Framed in the doorway of Hercule Poirot's bedroom stands an uninvited guest, coated from head to foot in dust. The man stares for a moment, then he sways and falls. Who is he? Is he suffering from shock or just exhaustion? Above all, what is the significance of the figure 4, scribbled over and over again on a sheet of paper? Poirot finds himself plunged into a worldof international intrigue, risking his life - and that of his twin brother - to uncover the truth.

The Mystery of the Blue Train: A Hercule Poirot Mystery

When the luxurious Blue Train arrives at Nice, a guard attempts to wake serene Ruth Kettering from her slumbers. But she will never wake again - for a heavy blow has killed her, disfiguring her features almost beyond recognition. What is more, her precious rubies are missing. The prime suspect is Ruth's estranged husband, Derek. Yet Hercule Poirot is not convinced, so he stages an eerie reenactment of the journey, complete with the murderer on board.

One of Christie's best

The plot is engaging from the first chapter and, as usual for Christie's work, there is suspense and guessing until the last chapter. I thought the en..Show More »ding was both satisfyingly happy and realistic.

The Big Four

Framed in the doorway of Poirot's bedroom stood an uninvited guest, coated from head to foot in dust. The man's gaunt face stared for a moment, then he swayed and fell. Who was he? Was he suffering from shock or just exhaustion? Above all, what was the significance of the figure four, scribbled over and over again on a sheet of paper? Poirot finds himself plunged into a world of international intrigue, risking his life to uncover the truth about "Number Four".

unusual agatha

This story takes Hercules away from his usual local murders into the world of espionage. I loved it. Lots of little surprises keeping the pace moving ..Show More »along.

Peril at End House: A Hercule Poirot Mystery

On holiday on the Cornish Riviera, Hercule Poirot is alarmed to hear pretty Nick Buckley describe her recent "accidental brushes with death". First, on a treacherous Cornish hillside, the brakes on her car failed. Then, on a coastal path, a falling boulder missed her by inches. Later, an oil painting fell and almost crushed her in bed. So when Poirot finds a bullet hole in Nick's sun hat, he decides that this girl needs his help. Can he find the would-be killer before he hits his target?

great narration - agatha never seems to disappoint

great story as always - Miss Christie is a gem. enjoyed the story, the narration - all aspects. good & entertaining read.

The Mystery of the Blue Train

When the luxurious Blue Train arrives at Nice, a guard attempts to wake serene Ruth Kettering from her slumbers. But she will never wake again, for a heavy blow has killed her, disfiguring her features almost beyond recognition. What is more, her precious rubies are missing.

Hugh Fraser does it again

The Mystery of the Blue Train is one of my favourite Christie novels, and I think Hugh Fraser did a wonderful job mimicking David Suchet's Poirot voic..Show More »e, as well as making the women sound normal instead of overly feminine.

Lord Edgware Dies: A Hercule Poirot Mystery

When Lord Edgware is found murdered the police are baffled. His estranged actress wife was seen visiting him just before his death and Hercule Poirot himself heard her brag of her plan to "get rid" of him. But how could she have stabbed Lord Edgware in his library at exactly the same time she was seen dining with friends? It's a case that almost proves to be too much for the great Poirot.

AKA 13 At Dinner a Somewhat Predictable Mystery

I would reccomend this book any Christie fans as somewhat standark Poirot fare. It is typical for Christie's Poirot novels of that period.

Peril at End House

Nick Buckley was an unusual name for a pretty young woman. But then she had led an unusual life. First, on a treacherous Cornish hillside, the brakes on her car failed. Then, on a coastal path, a falling boulder missed her by inches. Later, an oil painting fell and almost crushed her in bed. Upon discovering a bullet-hole in Nick's sun hat, Hercule Poirot decides the girl needs his protection. At the same time, he begins to unravel the mystery of a murder that hasn't been committed. Yet.

Very enjoyable listen, Narrator excellent,

As a recent member I was impressed by the quality and versatility of the Narration. The story was a typical Agatha Christie, and I still couldn't gue..Show More »ss "who did it"

Lord Edgware Dies

Poirot had been present when Jane bragged of her plan to "get rid of" her estranged husband. Now the monstrous man was dead. And yet the great Belgian detective couldn't help feeling that he was being taken for a ride. After all, how could Jane have stabbed Lord Edgware to death in his library at exactly the same time she was seen dining with friends? And what could be her motive now that the aristocrat had finally granted her a divorce?

classic poirot twists and turns

Hugh Fraser reads beautifully and this story is classic Agatha Christie with lots of red herrings and twists and turns. My one comment to audible.com ..Show More »is that around the 2.5 hour mark there was about 10 seconds of technical glitchery in which every second syllable was garbled.
Otherwise really really great.

Three Act Tragedy: A Hercule Poirot Mystery

Sir Charles Cartwright should have known better than to allow 13 guests to sit down for dinner. For at the end of the evening one of them is dead - choked by a cocktail that contained no trace of poison. Predictable, says Hercule Poirot, the great detective. But entirely unpredictable is that he can find absolutely no motive for murder.…

The Queen of Crime at her peak.

I love Hugh Fraser's performance of the world's greatest detective. I like him more than David Suchet on audio.

Murder on the Orient Express

Just after midnight, a snowdrift stopped the Orient Express in its tracks. The luxurious train was surprisingly full for the time of the year. But by the morning there was one passenger fewer. An American lay dead in his compartment, stabbed a dozen times, his door locked from the inside.

Suchet reading Poirot - a perfect partnership.

David Suchet is practically synonymous with Agatha Christie's Poirot, so it's simply wonderful that this audiobook is read by Suchet. His characterisa..Show More »tions are perfect, subtle and entertaining, which make these audiobooks great listening. This tale of murder and mystery is enthralling listening, so settle in - you're in for a real treat.

Death in the Clouds: A Hercule Poirot Mystery

From seat number nine, Hercule Poirot is almost ideally placed to observe his fellow air travelers on this short flight from Paris to London. Over to his right sits a pretty young woman, clearly infatuated with the man opposite. Ahead, in seat number 13, is the Countess of Horbury, horribly addicted to cocaine and not doing too good a job of concealing it. Across the gangway in seat number eight, a writer of detective fiction is being troubled by an aggressive wasp. Yes, Poirot is almost ideally placed to take it all in.

Poirot plays matchmaker while solving a murder

I love these Christie mysteries read by Hugh Fraser - he is wonderful. This outing has Poirot on an airplane trip from France to England when a fello..Show More »w passenger is murdered on board. Like an isolated house mystery, those present are all suspects, and they are the only suspects. With the company of a British and French police inspector and the help of some fellow passengers, Poirot manages to sniff out the murderer. Oh, and along the way he plays matchmaker to two lonely passengers -- so in the end, all is well.

Three Act Tragedy

Thirteen guests arrived at dinner at the actor's house. It was to be a particularly unlucky evening for the mild-mannered Reverend Stephen Babbington, who choked on his cocktail, went into convulsions and died. But when his martini glass was sent for chemical analysis, there was no trace of poison, just as Poirot had predicted. Even more troubling for the great detective, there was absolutely no motive.

The ABC Murders

There's a serial killer on the loose, working his way through the alphabet and the whole country is in a state of panic. A is for Mrs. Ascher in Andover, B is for Betty Barnard in Bexhill, C is for Sir Carmichael Clarkein Churston. With each murder, the killer is gettingmore confident - but leaving a trail of deliberate clues to taunt the proud Hercule Poirot might just prove to be the first, and fatal, mistake.

Jolly good mystery!

I really do enjoy these well-narrated Agatha Christie novels, and this one doesn't disappoint. Although I'm not a huge fan of the egotistical Poirot,..Show More » I am a big fan of Christie's mysteries and her (other) characters and, yes, Poirot is growing on me, if only as a somewhat laughable genius.

This mystery involves a series of alphabetical murders - the person's name and their town, running down the alphabet - that have been fortold in a series of taunting letters sent to Poirot, daring him to stop them or solve them. For reasons that later become apparent, it takes Poirot to the fourth murder (in Doncaster) to solve the problem and find the murder. In the interim, there are suspects, witnesses, red herrings, subtle clues, and a roulette wheel.

I recently found out that the character of Arthur Hastings (Poirot's friend who chronicles many of his adventures in several Agatha Christie novels) was played for almost 25 years on TV by the narrator of this book, Hugh Fraser. A nice match.

Death In the Clouds

From seat No.9, Hercule Poirot was ideally placed to observe his fellow air passengers. Over to his right sat a pretty young woman, ahead, across the gangway in seat No.8, a detective writer was being troubled by an aggressive wasp. What Poirot did not yet realize was that behind him, in seat No.2, sat the slumped, lifeless body of a woman.

Cards on the Table: A Hercule Poirot Mystery

Mr. Shaitana is famous as a flamboyant party host. Nevertheless, he is a man of whom everybody is a little afraid. So when he boasts to Hercule Poirot that he considers murder an art form, the detective has some reservations about accepting a party invitation to view Shaitana's "private collection". Indeed, what begins as an absorbing evening of bridge is to turn into a more dangerous game altogether.

this is a great Christie mystery

Some of Agatha Christie's mysteries are more about characters and some are more about mystery, and this is one of the latter. That's not to say that ..Show More »the characters are poor, only that the mystery itself takes center stage. It's a real whodunnit: A dinner party includes 4 criminals, whom the host claims to know have each gotten away with murder, and 4 sleuths, both professionals and amateurs......and while the 4 criminals are in a room playing bridge, one of them quietly and secretly murders the host. Whodunnit, and how will Poirot figure it out? Keep listening and find out.

The ABC Murders

There's a serial killer on the loose, bent on working his way through the alphabet. And as a macabre calling card he leaves beside each victim's corpe the ABC Railway Guide open at the name of the town where the murder has taken place.

Murder in Mesopotamia: A Hercule Poirot Mystery

Nurse Amy Leatheran had never felt the lure of the "mysterious East", but she nonetheless accepts an assignment at Hassanieh, an ancient site deep in the Iraqi desert, to care for the wife of a celebrated archaeologist. Mrs Leidner is suffering bizarre visions and nervous terror. "I'm afraid of being killed!" she admits to her nurse. Her terror, unfortunately, is anything but unfounded, and Nurse Leatheran is soon enough without a patient. The world's greatest detective happens to be in the vicinity, however....

Odd to hear a Poirot case narrated by a female

This story was unique in the telling, from a first person point of view by a character on scene at the time of murder but unconnected with the group a..Show More »nd who helps Poirot in his investigations (but who is not wholly above suspicion). I liked the perspective, as she lent her own practical and no-nonsense take of the people and events. And she distinguished herself from the few previous storytellers in the way she expressed herself, her calm evaluations, and I rather appreciated her conduct with the investigation and Poirot. Unlike Hastings, she didn't outwardly fall for red herrings or show Poirot some insight by way of grasping everything that was ultimately unimportant. She was on hand and helpful and gave useful info to him in just the manner of her profession, as she herself describes, a nurse there to help the attending doctor.

As far as the whodunit, I had many surmises along the way, and new info on alibis and motives was still surfacing right up until the big reveal. I had my suspicions proved right about the monk, and I was partially right about Mr. Kerry, but hasn't figured him out entirely. I was greatly amused by Coleman, and as a reader of PG Wodehouse, I appreciated the reference and found it a wonderful comparison. But honestly, this case had me fogged for the most part, and I had not come close to guessing the solution that Poirot unveiled in the end.

Appropriately, for this female-narrated volume, they chose a female narrator rather than the usual voice of Poirot I am accustomed to. She took a few chapters to get used to, but she was pretty good on the whole. Her weakness was in maintaining numerous male characters' voices, and some times their accents would blend into each other. It made a few dialogues a tad confusing, but on the whole didn't obfuscate the actions. What bothered me more was the fluctuation of her Poirot voice - it always held his "foreign" accent as the nurse put it, but at various times it sounded as if it was that accent applied to Emmott's tone or the husband's or the nurse herself, rather than a single consistent voice.

An enjoyable journey. Interesting, chronologically this case takes places just prior to that of the murder on the Orient Express, though this volume is several books later in the series.

Murder in Mesopotamia

Amy Leatheran had never felt the lure of the mysterious East, but when she travels to an ancient site deep in the Iraqi desert to nurse the wife of a celebrated archaeologist, events prove stranger than she could ever have imagined. Her patient's bizarre visions and nervous terror seem unfounded, but as the oppressive tension in the air thickens, events come to a terrible climax in murder.

Death on the Nile: A Hercule Poirot Mystery

The tranquillity of a cruise along the Nile was shattered by the discovery that Linnet Ridgeway had been shot through the head. She was young, stylish, and beautiful. A girl who had everything ... until she lost her life. Hercule Poirot recalled an earlier outburst by a fellow passenger: 'I'd like to put my dear little pistol against her head and just press the trigger." Yet in this exotic setting, nothing was ever quite what it seemed.

Yes, yes, yes!

This is what I'm talking about! Give us more David Suchet doing Agatha Christie's Poirot books and short stories. Any and all of them. It's that plain..Show More » and simple. He's a perfect narrator for ANY Christie story really but he's the master of performing Poirot. He's always been great onscreen and now he's great on audiobook. If you've ever wanted to read a Poirot adventure or one of Christie's classics, buy one of the full Hercule Poirot audiobooks read by David Suchet and you will not be disappointed.

Cards on the Table

Mr Shaitana was famous as a flamboyant party host. Nevertheless, he was a man of whom everybody was a little afraid. So, when he boasted to Poirot that he considered murder an art form, the detective had some reservations about accepting a party invitation to view Shaitana's private collection.

Dumb Witness: A Hercule Poirot Mystery

Miss Emily was old, rich, and afraid - and now, she's dead. Her terrified plea to Hercule Poirot came a little too late. All that's left is a house full of greedy heirs, and a very strange letter that could solve the mystery - or add to it.

accidental death or murder?

In this case, Poirot takes on the job requested of him in a letter he received months too late - and long after the letter writer is dead.........did ..Show More »she die an accidental death, as has been officially stated, or was it murder? And if it was murder, who was the guilty party? There's a collection of relatives and hired help who all might get a piece of the inheritance, and it's up to Poirot to figure it out. Very nicely done by Christie from a kind of routine set up (as many of her's are). As for the dog......well, the deceased client's dog get a few "words" in the story too.

Dumb Witness

Everyone blamed Emily's accident on a rubber ball left on the stairs by her frisky terrier. But the more she thought about her fall, the more convinced she became that one of her relatives was trying to kill her.

Death on the Nile

The tranquillity of a cruise along the Nile was shattered by the discovery that Linnet Ridgeway had been shot through the head. She was young, stylish, and beautiful. A girl who had everything...until she lost her life. Hercule Poirot recalled an earlier outburst by a fellow passenger: "I'd like to put my dear little pistol against her head and just press the trigger." Yet in this exotic setting nothing was ever quite what it seemed.

Poirot read by Suchet - this could never go wrong!

David Suchet is practically synonymous with Agatha Christie's Poirot, so it's simply wonderful that this audiobook is read by Suchet. His characterisa..Show More »tions are perfect, subtle and entertaining, which make these audiobooks great listening. Dive in and enjoy this tale of mystery and murder of the picturesque River Nile, you'll be spellbound.

Death on the Nile

John Moffatt stars as the famous Belgian detective in this BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation of one of Christie's most popular novels. Linnet Ridgeway has led a charmed life. Blessed with beauty, enormous wealth, and a devoted husband, she has everything anyone could wish for. But as the happy couple set out on an idyllic honeymoon cruise on the Nile, storm clouds are gathering. Linnet's former friend, Jacqueline de Bellefort, follows her and Simon wherever they go and Linnet senses she is in danger.

A faithful adaptation

The Agatha Christie radio adaptations keep closer to the original stories than the more recent TV versions. John Mophet does an excellent Poirot; arr..Show More »ogant, but adorable from a distance. And Death on the Nile is one of Christie's best. Unlike other thrillers and mysteries, I listen to the dramatisations and audio books over and over again, even though I know the ending. What makes a Christie murder better than most others is that she sticks to what she's supposed to be doing -- spinning a good yarn. So many other writers distract you from the puzzle with sex, social issues etc. Modern crime writers could learn a lot from the Queen of Crime.

Appointment with Death: A Hercule Poirot Mystery

Among the towering red cliffs of Petra, like some monstrous swollen Buddha, sits the corpse of Mrs.Boynton. A tiny puncture mark on her wrist is the only sign of the fatal injection that killed her. With only 24 hours available to solve the mystery, Hercule Poirot recalled a chance remark he'd overheard back in Jerusalem: "You see, don't you, that she's got to be killed?" Mrs. Boynton was, indeed, the most detestable woman he'd ever met....

Murder in the Mews

How did a woman holding a pistol in her right hand manage to shoot herself in the left temple? What was the link between a ghost sighting and the disappearance of top secert military plans? How did the bullet that killed Sir Gervase shatter a mirror in another part of the room? And who destroyed the "eternal triangle" of love involving renowned beauty, Valentine Chantry?

Hercule Poirot's Christmas: A Hercule Poirot Mystery

Christmas Eve, and the Lee family's reunion is shattered by a deafening crash of furniture and a high-pitched wailing scream. Upstairs, the tyrannical Simeon Lee lies dead in a pool of blood, his throat slashed. When Hercule Poirot offers to assist, he finds an atmosphere not of mourning but of mutual suspicion. It seems everyone had their own reason to hate the old man....

Appointment with Death

Among the towering red cliffs of Petra, like some monstrous swollen Buddha, sat the corpse of Mrs Boynton. A tiny puncture mark on her wrist was the only sign of the fatal injection that had killed her.

Appointment with Death

Among the towering red cliffs of Petra, like some monstrous swollen Buddha, sat the corpse of Mrs Boynton. A tiny puncture mark on her wrist was the only sign of the fatal injection that had killed her. With only 24 hours available to solve the mystery, Hercule Poirot recalled a chance remark he'd overheard back in Jerusalem: 'You see, don't you, that she's got to be killed?' Mrs Boynton was, indeed, the most detestable woman he'd ever met.

One, Two, Buckle My Shoe: A Hercule Poirot Mystery

The dentist was found with a blackened hole below his right temple. A pistol lay on the floor near his out flung right hand. Later, one of his patients was found dead from a lethal dose of local anaesthetic. A clear case of murder and suicide. But why would a dentist commit a crime in the middle of a busy day of appointments? A shoe buckle holds the key to the mystery. Now - in the words of the rhyme - can Poirot pick up the sticks and lay them straight?

Does Agatha ever disappoint?

My listening habits have fallen into a pattern - an intense fantasy novel then an Agatha Christie to take a break. The reason: her novels are both cha..Show More »rming and easy to read. Like all of her novels this one keeps you guessing, I solved part of this one but couldn't connect the dots as well as our Poirot.

This one like 'And then there were none' follows the pattern of a poem. This one being 'one, two buckle my shoe.' Its little details like these that have made me fall in love with the author.

If you are not familiar with Christie this would be a good novel to start. Her books are not graphic or violent like many modern mysteries/thrillers, but have intricate plots and characters that keep you intrigued.For this reason I'd recommend this one.

Hercule Poirot's Christmas

It is Christmas Eve. The Lee family reunion is shattered by a deafening crash of furniture, followed by a high-pitched wailing scream. Upstairs, the tyrannical Simeon Lee lies dead in a pool of blood, his throat slashed. But when Hercule Poirot, who is staying in the village with a friend for Christmas, offers to assist, he finds an atmosphere not of mourning but of mutual suspicion. It seems everyone had their own reason to hate the old man.

Sad Cypress: A Hercule Poirot Mystery

Beautiful young Elinor Carlisle stood serenely in the dock, accused of the murder of Mary Gerrard, her rival in love. The evidence was damning: only Elinor had the motive, the opportunity, and the means to administer the fatal poison. Yet, inside the hostile courtroom, only one man still presumed Elinor was innocent until proven guilty: Hercule Poirot was all that stood between Elinor and the gallows.

Good story, bad audio quality

If you're a fan of Hugh Fraser, it takes some time to get used to David Suchet's reading. He's a fine performer, but the audio qualtiy/mastering is po..Show More »or. The sound levels swing wildly and at the loud end there is distortion and at the quiet end occasionally Suchet whispers his lines and they're very difficult to understand especially if you're listening in the car.

Evil Under the Sun: A Hercule Poirot Mystery

The beautiful bronzed body of Arlena Stuart lay face down on the beach. But strangely, there was no sun and Arlena was not sunbathing - she had been strangled.

Ever since Arlena's arrival the air had been thick with sexual tension. Each of the guests had a motive to kill her, including Arlena's new husband. But Hercule Poirot suspects that this apparent "crime of passion" conceals something much more evil.

Sad Cypress

Beautiful young Elinor Carlisle stands serenely in the dock, accused of the murder of Mary Gerrard, her rival in love. The evidence is damning: only Elinor had the motive, the opportunity, and the means to administer the fatal poison. Yet, inside the hostile courtroom, one man still presumes Elinor is innocent until proven guilty: Hercule Poirot, who is all that stands between Elinor and the gallows.

Brilliantly told

Yes and I already have. Well told narrative, with excellent character profiling. A great tale by Agatha Christie.

Five Little Pigs

Beautiful Caroline Crale was convicted of poisoning her husband, but just like the nursery rhyme, there were five other "little pigs" who could have done it: Philip Blake (the stockbroker), who went to market; Meredith Blake (the amateur herbalist), who stayed at home; Elsa Greer (the three-time divorcee), who had her roast beef; Cecilia Williams (the devoted governess), who had none; and Angela Warren (the disfigured sister), who cried all the way home.

Sixteen years later, Caroline's daughter is determined to prove her mother's innocence.

Good, but not Christie's best

Hugh Fraser (who played Hastings, the sidekick of Hercules Poirot on the well-loved tv series) narrates this book, as he has done with several other C..Show More »hristie books.

He did the best he could with this book I think. While I doubt there are actually any "bad" mysteries by Agatha, I would not place this among her best works. It is tedious, and Poirot goes back and forth among the possible candidates for the murderer just interviewing them.

There is very little action otherwise, and I found myself actually becoming a little bored (almost a first for anything by AC). Don't know whether a different narrator might have spiced it up a bit--Fraser wasn't terribly animated in his reading--though perfectly ok in other respects.

I'd say, if you love Agatha Christie, this should be on your listening/reading list so you can complete the works. It is not bad--it just is not up to the usual quality of her writing.

One, Two, Buckle My Shoe

The dentist was found with a blackened hole below his right temple. A pistol lay on the floor near his out-flung right hand. Later, one of his patients was found dead from a lethal dose of local anaesthetic. It's a clear case of murder and suicide. But why would a dentist commit a crime in the middle of a busy day of appointments? A shoe buckle holds the key to the mystery. Now, in the words of the rhyme, can Poirot pick up the sticks and lay them straight?

The Hollow: A Hercule Poirot Mystery

A far-from-warm welcome greets Hercule Poirot as he arrives for lunch at Lucy Angkatell's country house. A man lies dying by the swimming pool, his blood dripping into the water. His wife stands over him, holding a revolver. As Poirot investigates, he begins to realize that beneath the respectable surface lies a tangle of family secrets and everyone becomes a suspect.

Hugh Fraser excellent narrator for Agatha Christie

This is one of Agatha Christie's books that features Hercule Poirot. But oddly, only scarcely. His role is very slight, and the book could easily have..Show More » been written without him.

He has taken a summer place near two houses where the main characters are staying. John Christow is doctor who brings his wife Gerta to a weekend party at the Angkatell's house. There are a few other people: Midge, a cousin, Edward a son, David--who considers them all snobs, Henrietta, a sculptress, and a movie star who appears into the doctor's life after many years, and a couple of loyal servants.

There are a lot of interactions between the characters, even (unusually) a fair amount of internal, private thoughts for some of them. Poirot happens to be visiting for lunch on the day of the murder, and arrives just seconds after it has occurred, and becomes involved for that reason. But this never turns out to be one of his classic mysteries, where he lines everyone up at the end, and reveals the murderer. He does figure it out, but the style is just so different, I felt some disappointment to miss the usual presentation. Christie is always good, but this is one of the weaker ones, in my opinion. Recommend, but with that observation about it.

Five Little Pigs

Beautiful Caroline Crale was convicted of poisoning her husband, yet there were five other suspects: Philip Blake (the stockbroker), who went to market; Meredith Blake (the amateur herbalist), who stayed at home; Elsa Greer (the three-time divorcee), who had roast beef; Cecilia Williams (the devoted governess), who had none; and Angela Warren (the disfigured sister), who cried "wee wee wee" all the way home.

One of her finest

Agatha Christie loves to present brilliant character studies. Five Little Pigs is one of the most powerful examples, as it is a fascinating study of a..Show More » long-dead person through the eyes of five completely different and opposing characters. The Narrator gives a wonderful performance, giving you the essence of each character with a distinctive 'voice'.I love a good murder mystery, but I love character studies even more, and his book delivers both in style.

Taken at the Flood: A Hercule Poirot Mystery

A few weeks after marrying an attractive widow, Gordon Cloade is tragically killed by a bomb blast in the London blitz. Overnight, the former Mrs. Underhay finds herself in sole possession of the Cloade family fortune. Shortly afterward, Hercule Poirot receives a visit from the dead man's sister-in-law who claims she has been warned by "spirits" that Mrs. Underhay's first husband is still alive. Poirot has his suspicions when he is asked to find a missing person guided only by the spirit world.

Wonderful mystery and style

Great story set in 1948, unfolds beautifully under excellent narration. I loved it!

App says I need to "finish writing (?)" before it will a..Show More »ccept my review ... so this is just filler.

The Hollow

Lucy Angkatell invited Hercule Poirot to lunch. To tease the great detective, her guests stage a mock murder beside the swimming pool. Unfortunately, the victim plays the scene for real. As his blood drips into the water, John Christow gasps one final word: "Henrietta". In the confusion, a gun sinks to the bottom of the pool. Poirot's enquiries reveal a complex web of romantic attachments. It seems everyone in the drama is a suspect, and each a victim of love.

Good entertainment to keep you guessing

Agatha Christie mysteries are some of my favourite ???comfort??? listening as they provide a good puzzle with larger than life characters who are ..Show More »usually aristocratic and affluent and live in beautiful English countryside settings. We can escape into these pleasant surroundings and even though a murder or two is bound to be committed we do not have to suffer gory details. This story is typical and, of course, includes a stately and faithful butler. .M'sieu Hercule Poirot of the sharp eyes, logical thinking, extreme vanity, kind heart and formidable moustaches is a much loved character and his dry comments always leave me smiling. He makes his appearance midway through this story, which starts with such well drawn and interesting descriptions of the main characters that they are easy to picture.

Lady Angkatell, in particular, is an absolute gem. She flows and floats around her country house home ???The Hollow??? continuously chattering on in a hilarious but apparently inconsequential flow. Despite this we begin to realise that she artlessly manages to plant certain pictures in the minds of her listeners ??? including us. Lady Lucy would be a nightmare to live with, but she alone could make this book worthwhile, although there is also plenty of surprise and entanglement to enjoy. So many times we think we know ???who dunnit???, but we are kept guessing again and again until the end.Hugh Fraser is an excellent narrator for all these books and always finds the perfect voice for each different character to bring them to life for us.

Mrs. McGinty's Dead: A Hercule Poirot Mystery

Well, it's no wonder. The plot - suspicion for an elderly woman's murder falls on her mysterious lodger - is from Agatha Christie. The wonderful character happens to be the world's most famous sleuth, Hercule Poirot.

Poirot at his finest.

This is one of Christie's best novels. Poirot is brilliant and engaging, the mystery is thoughful, the characters are from Dame Agatha's usual reperto..Show More »ire, but I love them and the ending is most unpredictable.

The Labours of Hercules

In appearance Hercule Poirot hardly resembled an ancient Greek hero. Yet, reasoned the detective, like Hercules he had been responsible for ridding society of some of its most unpleasant monsters. So, in the period leading up to his retirement, Poirot made up his mind to accept just 12 more cases: his self-imposed "labours". Each would go down in the annals of crime as a heroic feat of deduction.

After the Funeral: A Hercule Poirot Mystery

When Cora Lansquenet is savagely murdered with a hatchet, the extraordinary remark she made the previous day at her brother Richard's funeral suddenly takes on a chilling significance. At the reading of Richard's will, Cora was clearly heard to say, "It's been hushed up very nicely, hasn't it.... But he was murdered, wasn't he?"

In desperation, the family solicitor turns to Hercule Poirot to unravel the mystery....

Hugh Fraser Forever!

Yes, It was much more vivid than if I read it in bits and pieces myself. Listening to a great book allows me to listen for extended periods of time ..Show More »instead of trying to squeeze in reading time during a busy day.

Taken at the Flood

A few weeks after marrying an attractive young widow, Gordon Cloade is tragically killed by a bomb blast in the London blitz. Overnight, the former Mrs Underhay finds herself in sole possession of the Cloade family fortune. Shortly afterwards, Hercule Poirot receives a visit from the dead man's sister-in-law, who claims she has been warned by "spirits" that Mrs Underhay's first husband is still alive.

Sometimes a book goes temporarily out of print - and sometimes no audio version has ever been recorded. Audible wants to give you the most complete selection we can and we'll keep adding series and filling in gaps as quickly as possible.

Dead Man's Folly: A Hercule Poirot Mystery

Whilst organising a mock murder hunt for the village fete hosted by Sir George and Lady Stubbs, a feeling of dread settles on the famous crime novelist Adriane Oliver. Call it instinct, but it's a feeling she just can't explain...or get away from. In desperation she summons her old friend, Hercule Poirot - and her instincts are soon proved correct when the "pretend" murder victim is discovered playing the scene for real, a rope wrapped tightly around her neck.

A great Agatha Christie

I have read lots of Agatha Christie novels as they are pretty dependable as a good read. This was one of my favourites. Very enjoyable with some good,..Show More » unexpected twists. Highly recommended.

Cat Among the Pigeons: A Hercule Poirot Mystery

A revolution in the Middle East has a direct and deadly impact upon the summer term at Meadowbank, a picture-perfect girls' school in the English countryside. Prince Ali Yusuf, Hereditary Sheikh of Ramat, whose great liberalizing experiment is coming to chaos, knows that he must prepare for the day of his exile. He asks his pilot and school friend, Bob Rawlinson, to care for a packet of jewels. Rawlinson does so, hiding them among the possessions of his niece Jennifer Sutcliffe, who is bound for Meadowbank.

Mrs. McGinty's Dead

Mrs McGinty died from a brutal blow to the back of her head. Suspicion fell immediately on her shifty lodger, James Bentley, whose clothes revealed traces of the victim's blood and hair. Yet something was amiss: Bentley just didn't look like a murderer.

The Clocks: A Hercule Poirot Mystery

Sheila Webb expected to find a respectable blind lady waiting for her at 19 Wilbraham Crescent - not the body of a middle-aged man sprawled across the living room floor. But when old Miss Pebmarsh denies sending for her in the first place, or of owning all the clocks that surround the body, it's clear that they are going to need a very good detective. "This crime is so complicated that it must be quite simple," declares Hercule Poirot. But there's a murderer on the loose, and time is ticking away.

Too little of Poirot

The thing about this book is that it drags a little. And there's really very little of Hercule Poirot in it. Hugh Frasier is very good. His Poirot ..Show More »is almost indistinguishable from David Suchet's, probably from all those years playing opposite each other in the movies.

After the Funeral

When Cora is savagely murdered with a hatchet, the extraordinary remark she made the previous day at her brother Richard's funeral suddenly takes on a chilling significance. In desperation, the family solicitor turns to Hercule Poirot to unravel the mystery.

Nice twist

It's amazing how, after writing so many detective stories, Christie still manages to surprise the reader/listerner with an unexpected solution to the ..Show More »mystery. Impeccable reading by Hugh Fraser as usual.

Third Girl: A Hercule Poirot Mystery

Three young women share a London flat. The first is a coolly efficient secretary. The second is an artist. The third interrupts Hercule Poirot's breakfast, confessing that she is a murderer - and then promptly disappears. Slowly, Poirot learns of the rumors surrounding the mysterious third girl, her family, and her disappearance. Yet hard evidence is needed before the great detective can pronounce her guilty, innocent, or insane.

A bit confusing

The narration was great but the storyline was a bit confusing. Agatha has written better but would definitely listen to again.

Hickory Dickory Dock

An outbreak of kleptomania at a student hostel was not normally the sort of crime that aroused Hercule Poirot's interest. But then he saw the list of stolen and vandalized items: a stethoscope, some old flannel trousers, a box of chocolates, a slashed rucksack, and a diamond ring found in a bowl of soup. The list made absolutely no sense at all. But, reasoned Poirot, if this was merely a petty thief at work, why was everyone at the hostel so frightened?

Dead Man's Folly

Sir George and Lady Stubbs, the hosts of a village fête, hit upon the novel idea of staging a mock murder mystery. In good faith, Ariadne Oliver, the well known crime writer, agrees to organise their murder hunt. Despite weeks of meticulous planning, at the last minute Ariadne calls her friend Hercule Poirot for his expert assistance. Instinctively, she senses that something sinister is about to happen. Beware: nobody is quite what they seem!

Surprisingly predictable

There was supposed to be a fake murder, it becomes real. How much more predictable does it need to get? Throw in also the murder mystery writer. With..Show More » such cliched premises, it is hard to save the plot after that, no matter what twists there are.

Elephants Can Remember: A Hercule Poirot Mystery

"The Ravenscrofts didn't seem that kind of person. They seemed well balanced and placid..." And yet, twelve years earlier, the husband had shot the wife, and then himself - or perhaps it was the other way around, since sets of both of their fingerprints were on the gun, and the gun had fallen between them. The case haunts Ariadne Oliver, who had been a friend of the couple. The famous mystery novelist desires this real-life mystery solved, and calls upon Hercule Poirot to help her do so.

Can't miss!

Hugh Fraiser delights as always and you can't miss with Agatha Christie. A delightful escape for a hot summer day.

Cat Among the Pigeons

Late one night, two teachers investigate a mysterious flashing light in the sports pavilion, while the rest of the school sleeps. There, among the lacrosse sticks, they stumble upon the body of the unpopular games mistress, shot through the heart from point blank range.

The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding

First came a sinister warning to Poirot not to eat any plum pudding...then the discovery of a corpse in a chest, but what can link these baffling cases? The little grey cells of Monsieur Hercule Poirot! Feast yourself on these intriguing crime mysteries from the distinctive hand of the queen of crime fiction.

Curtain: Poirot's Last Case: A Hercule Poirot Mystery

The house guests at Styles seemed perfectly harmless to Captain Hastings: There was his own daughter Judith, an inoffensive ornithologist called Norton, dashing Mr. Allerton, brittle Miss Cole, Doctor Franklin and his fragile wife Barbara, Nurse Craven, Colonel Luttrell and his charming wife Daisy, and the charismatic Boyd-Carrington. So Hastings was shocked when Poirot declared that one of them was a five-times murderer. True, the detective was ageing, but had his deductive instincts finally deserted him?

The Clocks

As instructed, stenographer Sheila Webb let herself into the house at 19 Wilbraham Crescent. It was then that she made a grisly discovery: the body of a dead man sprawled across the living-room floor. What intrigued Poirot about the case was the time factor. Although in a state of shock, Sheila clearly remembered having heard a cuckoo clock strike 3.00. Yet, the four other clocks in the living room all showed the time as 4.13. Even more strange: only one of these clocks belonged to the owner of the house.

Disappointing

The aging Hercule Poirot makes guest appearances as an armchair consultant, but since the other two detectives are quite charmless, this isn't Agatha ..Show More »Christie's most interesting work. Rather disappointed.

Third Girl

Three single girls shared the same London flat. The first worked as a secretary; the second was an artist; the third, who came to Poirot for help, disappeared, convinced she was a murderer. Now there were rumours of revolvers, flick-knives, and blood stains. But, without hard evidence, it would take all Poirot's tenacity to establish whether the third girl was guilty, innocent - or insane.

Hallowe'en Party

At a Hallowe'en party, Joyce, a hostile 13-year-old, boasts that she once witnessed a murder. When no one believes her, she storms off home. But within hours, her body is found, still in the house, drowned in an apple-bobbing tub. That night, Hercule Poirot is called in to find the "evil presence". But first he must establish whether he is looking for a murderer or a double-murderer.

Elephants Can Remember

Hercule Poirot stood on the cliff-top. For here, many years earlier, there had been a tragic accident: the broken body of a woman was discovered on the rocks at the foot of the cliff. This was followed by the grisly discovery of two more bodies, a husband and wife, shot dead. But who had killed whom? Was it a suicide pact? A crime of passion? Or cold-blooded murder?

Poirot's Early Cases

Still in the formative years of his career, Hercule Poirot faces a most taxing case: who killed Lord Cronshaw? Was Coco Courtenay's death on the same night a mere coincidence? And did she deliberately take an overdose of cocaine?

Wonderful Narration

The characters were magnificently portrayed by Fraser and Suchet, which makes it so easy to listen to. When I first started listening to audiobooks I ..Show More »was worried that hearing a narrator's voice would detract from experiencing the story. These two narrators (Fraser narrates most of it, Suchet is Poirot, I believe) eliminate this issue, really bringing the short stories to life, a sort of bridge between reading and watching a film (but with all the detail of the book).

Curtain: Poirot's Last Case

The house guests at Styles seemed perfectly pleasant to Captain Hastings. There was his own daughter, Judith; an inoffensive ornithologist called Norton; dashing Mr Allerton; brittle Miss Cole; Doctor Franklin and his fragile wife, Barbara; Nurse Craven; Colonel Luttrell and his charming wife, Daisy; and the charismatic Boyd-Carrington. So Hastings was shocked to learn from Hercule Poirot's declaration that one of them was a five-times murderer.

Last but Certainly Not Least

Can't fault Hugh Fraser's reading. Loved the twist in this last Poirot. Christie, what an author! Will hear again and again and ...